Aereo sending out beta invitations for Houston service

Aereo, the controversial startup that streams local broadcast TV signals over the Internet, has started emailing invitations to a closed beta test for its Houston service.

The company announced earlier this month that it would begin offering service here on Sept. 16. Aereo uses dime-sized antennas – one for each of its subscribers – to capture over-the-air signals which are then transmitted over the Net. TV shows are also stored on Aereo’s servers so its customers can watch them DVR-style, with the ability to watch on demand with pause, rewind and fast-forward capabilities.

It includes a link to a survey that asks typical demographic questions, including age, occupation, household income how the recipient heard about Aereo. It also asks about favorite websites and interests:

The survey also asks users about their broadband provider and mobile carriers.

Those who take the survey are asked to leave an email address to be associated with the account.

When it launches, Aereo will charge $8 a month for 20 hours of cloud-based DVR storage. For $12 a month, subscribers can get 60 hours of storage.

Aereo has already launched in a handful of cities, where it has been met by legal challenges. Broadcasters say that Aereo is stealing their signals without providing compensation. The company responds by saying that it’s merely leasing antennas to its customers.

So far, Aereo has prevailed in each case, but appeals are pending and the issue of whether its service is legal will probably end up in the U.S. Supreme Court.

I’ve reached out to an Aereo spokesperson, and will update this entry when I hear back.

Have you received an Aereo beta invitation? Let us know in the comments.